The individual, nanometer thin layers, which finally form the 3D architectures, adhere to virtually any material and surface morphology. That saves time because FEBID does not require any pre- or post-treatment of the samples.

On the other hand, it also enables fabrication on uneven or rough surfaces. "This type of 3D nanoprinting opens up completely new playgrounds for science and industry," says Harald Plank from the Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis at TU Graz and head of the CD lab.

With the new technology, future challenges can be mastered that are barely possible with alternative nanofabrication methods such as electron beam lithography. "With this method, it would also be possible to produce 3D nanostructures on a pencil tip in a single step, which is very difficult to do with alternative technologies," explains Plank.


How the new 3D nanoprinting technology works

The new process will be used in cooperation with industrial partners GETec Microscopy (Vienna) and Anton Paar GmbH (Graz) in the field of atomic force microscopy for the production of functional nano-probes with apex radii of less than ten nanometers.

"The printing process takes place in the vacuum chamber of electron microscopes. The functional gases are introduced with a fine capillary in close proximity to the sample. The gaseous molecules then adsorb on the surface and are chemically broken down and immobilised by the focused electron beam – they remain in place through interaction with the electrons," explains Plank. "You can imagine 3D nanoprinting like a ballpoint pen: The electron beam acts like a ballpoint pen refill and the gas is the ink.

Plank and his team were inspired by Lego bricks for printing inclined structures: "To build a tilted architecture using Lego, the next higher layer of bricks must always be moved sideward. This is exactly what we have transferred to 3D nanoprinting: Before applying the next layer, we shift the electron beam and literally print diagonally upwards."


Success ful implementation

During the last 20 months, the CD lab was able to deliver the first proof-of-principle. In more detail, FEBID was successfully used for the production of electrically conductive nanoprobes, whose performance is significantly higher than that of alternative, commercially available products.

Plank and his team are satisfied with the result: "Small series production will start in Vienna in the coming months and open up new possibilities for the industrial partner GETec Microscopy.”


International cooperation

To ensure that the new process does not remain a niche technology, the researchers in the CD lab are currently developing a new software for FEBID based 3D Nanoprinting, which will allow fabrication of complex nanostructures even without broad prior knowledge. For that, Plank and his research group have joined forces with Oak Ridge National Laboratories (USA) and the Institute of Physics at the Goethe University Frankfurt (GER), which together with Graz University of Technology are among the world's leading research institutions in this field.

This project also focuses on extending the process to 3D surfaces and multi-material structures, which further increases the design flexibility and thus the relevance of this technology in research and development.

TU Graz. Posted: Accessed: Nov 17, 2019.

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